March 06 2009 I installed Nero 7 ultra because version 6 was lame at adding avi video files to a DVD project! Problem: Nero 7 wants to be a media player and image viewer too! Solution: Logon to each user account and set Windows media player to be default player for all file types! Also, download and install this tool which resets the file association of image files to their default settings at: http://windowsxp.mvps.org/utils/imgeditor.zip For years I have been telling customers NOT to put files on the desktop because the restore procedure clears the desktop. For each user account I have created a virtual desktop, a shortcut to a folder on each user's desktop called My Desktop I created in the My Documents of each user on drive D:\ For years I have been telling customers NOT to create new user accounts. I have copied the profile of user 1 to c:\Documments and Settings\Default User. Now customers can create new user accounts which will be copies of the User1 account. I decided to remove the MSN Plus. I removed Ares209 and downloaded and installed Ares211 from: http://aresgalaxy.sourceforge.net/ Removed Irfan view and installed Xnview to view pictures from: http://www.snapfiles.com/reviews/Xnview/xnview.html Installed Easy Cleaner from: http://personal.inet.fi/business/toniarts/ecleane.htm RKS Fax software requires fax printer driver be running at Windows startup. Open RKS Fax >File >Printer Driver Repair Tool >Next >Install >Finish and restart Remember to allow new fax startup program reported by Winpatrol. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ September 21, 2008 I have been experimenting with Orbit downloader and have decided to remove it! It caused Internet explorer on Vista to lock up! ------------------------------------------------- Dear Customers (I think Fall 2005 - Summer 2008) you have a virus in C:\gaymz\Troy. It is called patch.exe. I was trying to crack the limit of 20 levels. Avast Antivirus never caught it until recently when I updated the program! Solution: Disconnect the Internet. Click My Computer >C:\ >Gaymz >Troy. Right click on patch.exe. Hold down the shift key >Delete ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ I am learning more and more about laptops. I have failed to set the laptops I have repaired to power saving mode which may extend time the battery can perform without recharging. Double Click on battery power icon on Windows taskbar at bottom right. Select Power saving mode. Remember playing a DVD will drain battery power rapidly! Also, turn off wireless adapter to save power. Remember to let the laptop battery run down completely before you recharge it. Also ensure you charge the battery fully before you start to run it down again. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sept 12, 2008 I have just discovered why some of you are experiencing difficulty logging into your msn chat program. Your MSN chat program is being hijacked! This happened updating msn plus while connected to the Internet Solution: Now I have told MSN plus not to notify about updates! You may need to restore the image! Avoid updating software online! Download the new program executable file. Disonnect Internet then install program while disconnected from the Internet! Also avoid sqm files being written to root C:\. In each user account, log into msn messenger. Then Click help >Customer Experience Improvement Program >I don't want to participate >OK Sorry for the inconvenience. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Also some XP customers (few in number) have Windows media player 11. I really regret upgrading to 11 because Windows Media player 9 works perfectly! Solution: Uninstall Windows Media Player 11: control panel >add remove programs uninstall Windows media player 11. It will roll back to version 9. When media player 9 is started for the first time in each user account, you can safely go with the defaults provided. If you want more privacy then only select download license automatically. Next accept all file types. -------------------------------------------------------------- June 29, 2008 Windows XP Pro cannot make private folders on Fat32 partitions! The remedy will not loose data: satrt >run >cmd C:\Docucuments and Settings\User1>vol d: (make note of drive d: name = new MBR ent) convert d: /fs:ntfs (enter name for d: drive) You may receive an error about drive in use. You may be prompted to dismount drive...say yes Windows will schedule conversion to ntfs on the next reboot...say yes Restart PC Windows will scan d: for errors then continue to do the conversion. The conversion is rapid! Right click Start >Explore >Tools >Folder options >View >Scroll down to checkmark use simple file sharing >apply >OK Click my computer >Drive D: >User1 >Right click my documents >sharing and security >make this folder private >Apply >OK June 27, 2008 Sometimes the popup blockers, admuncher and popthis may prevent Internet Explorer from behaving correctly. If so, then try Firefox located in stuff >browsers. Adumncher may popup and say it will change the way it blocks popups. When it does this just click cancel. Do not agree with the change. You may right click on the Cow (Admuncher) on the Windows task bar at bottom right corner near the display of the time. Then left click disable filtering. The Cow turns red. NB this will allow popups! Similalrly you can tell popthis to allow popups from selected websites. In Internet Explorer click tools >popthis! options >add website address to list of allowed sites >apply If you turn up the sound volume, you should hear popthis making a pop sound everytime it blocks a popup! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- April 01, 2008 Some Mistakes I Have Made: 1. IL system wiper Affects Win 98 and Win XP Problem 1: IL system wiper not running at startup Solution for Win 98 and Win XP: Login to each user and do the following: Stuff >Tools >IL system wiper >options >Only check mark run at startup and wipe on shutdown Problem 2: IL system wiper not deleting temporary Internet Files Solutions for win 98: Login to each user and do the following: IL system wiper should now be running on the windows taskbar Right click IL system wiper icon on taskbar >restore window Click Widows Tab> change directories beside delete temp files >Erase existing path and enter new path: C:\WINDOWS\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5 Solution for 5-User Win XP: Login to each user and do the following: Right click start >explore On your left you will see your user folder expanded. Down the list of folders you will see local settings Click local settings >temporary Internet files Depending on which user you logged into, the address bar will display: c:\documents and settings \User1\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files Select the text in the address bar, then right click on the highlighted text and left click copy IL system wiper should now be running on windows task bar Right click IL system wiper icon on task bar >restore window Click Widows Tab> change directories beside delete temp files >erase existing path then right click mouse in cleared window >paste Then new path should now be displayed: c:\documents and settings \User1\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files Click OK >exit --------------------------------------------------------------------- 2. The players, Real Player, Windows Media Player and WinAmp. Problem 1: Each of these players wants to be default player. This would cause annoying popups. Solution for WIN 98 and Win XP. Install latest version of Winpatrol Right click black Scotty dog on windows task bar >options >Check mark lock file types >close Winpatrol may be downloaded from: http://www.snapfiles.com/get/winpatrol.html Problem 2: Windows media player malfunctions in Win 98. Cause: Windows Essential Codec corrupted the Media Player Solution for Win 98: Uninstall Windows media player 9: Download and reinstall Windows Media Player 9 for Windows 98 from: http://www.download.com/Windows-Media-Player-Windows-98SE-2000-Me-/3000-2139_4-10180875.html?tag=lst-0-3 Problem 3: Windows Media Player Malfunctions in Win XP: Cause: Uncertain. Perhaps Windows Essential Codec corrupted the Media Player Solution for Win XP: Download and reinstall Windows Media Player 9 for Windows XP from: http://drpcdr.ca/mpsetupx.exe Login to each user and do the following: Make Windows Media Player the default player for all file types Start windows media player >tools >options >File Types >Select All > Apply >OK ------------------------------------------------------------- In the spring of 2007, I recreated my Win XP image from scratch. I upgraded powerDVD and caught 3 viruses from the Patch I did not discover this until November 2007 Problem: 3 viruses on my Windows XP image evade detection by Avast Solution: Perform Avast Boot-Time Scan to remove the viruses Right Click mouse on Avast Icon in Windows task bar >Start Avast Antivirus >Stop Memory Test >Right Click anywhere on Avast Window >Schedule Boot-Time Scan >Schedule >Yes to restart computer. When a virus is found, select option 2 to delete all ---------------------------------------------------------- Spring of 2007, on Windows XP image, the upgraded Sygate firewall blocks FTP. Solution: Set Sygate Firewall to allow all traffic before you start to use FTP. When finished set Sygate Firewall back to normal: Stuff >security >Sygate personal firewall >Security >Allow All When finished with FTP: Stuff >security >Sygate personal firewall >Security >Allow All This mistake has not been fixed. All other mistakes have been repaired! ------------------------------------------------------------------ In Spring of 2007 I recreated my Win 98 image from scratch. Unfortunately, I misplaced an important update which allows Win 98 to read flash drives. Finally, in Spring of 2008, I found the file, nusb33e.exe Download it from: http://www.technical-assistance.co.uk/kb/usbmsd98.php ------------------------------------------------------------ The service pack 2 for win 98 comes with a security update which causes problems when allowed to run when Windows starts. After installing service pack 2, before restarting the PC, First, remove kb891711.exe from running at startup. To accomplish this use Winpatrol: Right Click on black scotty dog >display startup info >select kb891711.exe >remove >close Then restart PC Service pack 2 for Windows 98 can be downloaded